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Oyo, Ogun, Lagos will jointly light up Lagos-Ibadan expressway – Makinde

Published

3 years ago

March 5, 2023

The entire 120km stretch of Lagos-Ibadan expressway will benefit from a joint light-up project being planned by the governments of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said.

The governor disclosed this on Saturday as part of the lofty programmes his administration planned for the residents on his re-election for a another term of four years.

He spoke on the light-up of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while featuring on Splash FM 105.5 Ibadan programme.

He said he initiated the discussions with his colleague in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the three state governments to work together on the possibility of lighting up the entire stretch of the expressway.

According to him, the proposed project will benefit all the three states.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as saying, “Under Omituntun 2.0, we are exploring and I am talking to my colleagues in Ogun and Lagos states. We have a 120km stretch from Lagos to Ibadan. What we have done under the Light-Up Oyo project is to put infrastructure on 250km of our road. So, we can do it. There is nothing that says if you are coming from Lagos, there cannot be light every night between Lagos and Ibadan. I can give you that assurance that it will happen.

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“As for Lagos, they have up to the bridge head at Berger, and Ogun State has up to Onigaari. They have the longest stretch. And if we say each state should bear the burden accordingly, they will bear the lion share. But I told my colleague in Lagos that this is something that should benefit all of us. Even if we have to share the burden in such a way that Ogun State is encouraged to come in, we will do it. But this is something that will happen under Omituntun 2.0.”

The governor appreciated the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve, while calling on them to do it again on March 11, so that socio-political order, economic prosperity and other good things being enjoyed in the state would continue for another four years.

He said, “Once again, let me thank the good people of Oyo State who gave me the opportunity to serve them. Just like four years ago, the election is going to be a one-day event but the ramification and effect will stay with us for another four years.

“So, I want to urge our people to come out and not be afraid. Come out and make your choice. Vote for me again. What we have enjoyed for over three years in the state was the result of the step you took by voting for me on March 9th, 2019. Now, on the 11th of March, 2023, go out and do the same thing and we will have an Oyo State of your dreams.

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“Now, we are talking about civil servants and pensioners being paid for 45 months unbroken out of 48 month of this tenure. That is about 94 per cent really gone. So, if we want to extend it and not stop at 48 but go to 49, 50 and even to 96, then, come out to vote for PDP and all the PDP House of Assembly candidates. I will work with the House of Assembly members who will approve budgets and bills that we want to turn into law.

Speaking on what residents of the state should expect under Omituntun 2.0, Governor Makinde declared that the government would, upon his re-election, activate a lot of projects including the Ilutuntun Business District in Akinyele, which would have a digital technology hub for the youth.

While responding to questions on how his administration had fared in the education sector, the governor pointed out that the administration had been able to put in place a massive infrastructure reform in the sector, while also successfully moving about 60,000 students back to the classrooms through its various efforts on provision of free and qualitative education.

He said the administration’s success story in the tertiary education sector included the consistent ranking of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, LAUTECH, as the best state university in the country in the last three years.

“LAUTECH, for over three years running, has been adjudged to be the best state university in Nigeria and we will keep pushing. It is work in progress but I can say confidently that we are laying the right foundation for the Oyo State of our dream,” the governor said.

Related Topics:Featured Lagos-Ibadan expressway Makinde

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Kukah Rejects Hausa Identity Label, Says He Is From Kaduna, Not Hausa

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, Matthew Kukah

Kukah Rejects Hausa Identity Label, Says He Is From Kaduna, Not Hausa

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, Matthew Kukah, has urged Nigerians to stop referring to him as a Hausa man, clarifying that his ethnic identity is often misunderstood.

Kukah made the clarification on Saturday during the university’s 16th convocation ceremony, where he was formally installed as Chancellor.

The cleric said that while he is a Nigerian and resides in northern Nigeria, he is not of Hausa origin, noting that repeated misidentification has followed him across different parts of the country.

“I am a typical Nigerian from Anchuna, Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, but not a Hausa man by origin. Nigerians should stop addressing me as a Hausa person,” he said.

Kukah’s remarks come amid broader national conversations around ethnic identity, stereotyping, and national unity, particularly in a country with over 250 ethnic groups where identity is often mistakenly tied to geography or residence.

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He urged graduating students at the ceremony to prioritise good character, discipline, and responsibility in their relationships with their families, institution, and society at large.

The bishop, known for his advocacy on governance, democracy, and interfaith harmony, also commended the Anambra State Government for its investment in education, noting that the state continues to rank strongly in academic development.

He also expressed appreciation to Governor Chukwuma Soludo for appointing him as Chancellor of the institution, describing it as a role he intends to use to strengthen the university’s academic standards and vision.

Governor Soludo, who attended the convocation as Visitor to the university, described the ceremony as a celebration of academic excellence and national development.

He highlighted the importance of universities in producing skilled graduates capable of solving real-world problems, rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge.

Soludo also announced several incentives for outstanding students, including a ₦4 million cash award to the overall best graduating student, Somtochukwu Augustus Ume of the Economics Department, who finished with a CGPA of 4.85.

In addition, the governor awarded scholarships to 37 first-class graduates to support postgraduate studies in any public university of their choice.

The event marked a major academic milestone for COOU, with stakeholders emphasising the need for stronger collaboration between government and higher institutions to improve educational outcomes in Nigeria.

Kukah Rejects Hausa Identity Label, Says He Is From Kaduna, Not Hausa

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Fake News, Disinformation Fueled 2020 #EndSARS Protests – Lai Mohammed

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Fake News, Disinformation Fueled 2020 #EndSARS Protests – Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Lai Mohammed, has said the October 2020 #EndSARS protests were driven more by fake news and disinformation than by any shortcomings in government communication.

His remarks were contained in a statement issued to Peoples Gazette on Sunday by his media aide, Nnamdi Atupulazi, following a high-level forum at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he spoke on governance, media responsibility, and crisis communication.

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020 as a youth-led movement demanding the end of police brutality in Nigeria, particularly against the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations quickly spread across major cities and gained global attention, becoming one of the most significant civic movements in Nigeria’s recent history.

According to Lai Mohammed, while the protests initially reflected genuine public anger, they were later “hijacked” and escalated by the spread of misinformation, unverified reports, and doctored content across both social media and traditional media platforms.

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“The problem we had was not the usual communication gap between the government and the citizens. It was fake news and disinformation, coupled with unbridled violence,” he said.

He also alleged that some foreign media outlets amplified tensions by relying on unverified or misleading content, which he said contributed to a distorted global perception of events during the protests.

“What we saw during #EndSARS was the dangerous power of disinformation in real time,” he noted, adding that it highlights the need for stronger fact-checking systems, media accountability, and information regulation frameworks.

The former minister further stated that the experience underscored the growing global challenge of information disorder, especially during crises.

In the same address, Mohammed also referenced Nigeria’s communication response during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the government had to develop its strategy from scratch due to the absence of a recent global precedent.

“When COVID-19 broke out, there was no template to fall back on. So we had to devise our own communication strategy on the go,” he said.

He explained that the administration adopted daily briefings, multi-platform messaging, and engagement with media outlets to ensure widespread dissemination of public health information. He added that materials were translated into major Nigerian languages and Pidgin English to improve public understanding.

The event at LSE formed part of his speaking tour in the United Kingdom, where he also discussed governance communication and leadership, anchored on his memoir, “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration,” which documents his time as government spokesperson from 2015 to 2023.

The comments are likely to reignite debate around the causes and handling of the #EndSARS protests, which remain a sensitive subject in Nigeria’s political and civic discourse.

Fake News, Disinformation Fueled 2020 #EndSARS Protests – Lai Mohammed

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NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Trends Admin

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon pills in Kwara State, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and its links to global criminal networks.

The agency described the seizure as particularly notable, coming nearly five years after what it previously identified as Africa’s first interception of Captagon at Apapa Port in Lagos.

Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant, is widely abused in parts of the Middle East and has been linked to armed groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Authorities say proceeds from the drug trade are often used to fund extremist activities, while the substance itself is used to enhance endurance and reduce fear among fighters.

In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, operatives intercepted the latest shipment on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State.

A search conducted on a 33-year-old suspect, identified as N. Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon concealed in 10 packs, alongside nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg, a powerful opioid.

Babafemi noted that Captagon can sell for as much as $25 per pill on the black market, making it a lucrative commodity for trafficking syndicates.

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In a related operation on April 24 at the same location, NDLEA operatives intercepted another trailer (registration number RMY-70XA), uncovering a hidden compartment loaded with multiple illicit substances. The seizure included:

155,900 capsules of Tramadol
6,000 ampoules of Tramadol injection
3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol
9,000 tablets of Bromazepam

A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Oyo State, along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus traveling to Sokoto. A passenger, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was subjected to a body scan after exhibiting suspicious behaviour.

The scan confirmed ingestion of illicit substances, and under medical observation, he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly opted for road travel to evade airport screening. He was reportedly planning to pass through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe—highlighting the international dimension of Nigeria’s drug trafficking routes.

Further operations in Edo State led to the interception of a truck carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids along the Benin–Lagos Expressway. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested, with the consignment reportedly bound for Onitsha.

The NDLEA said the coordinated operations underscore the growing scale and sophistication of drug trafficking networks in Nigeria, including the use of concealed compartments, human couriers, and multi-state distribution channels.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement, warning that the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism financing poses a serious threat to national and regional security.